Hi there

I can do the low kip hits with no meds but i would crack up if i had to take the high kips with out meds i did it for 2 years like most here undiagnosed terrified and just in a bad place i cant go back to that.

i could do it with nothing but o2 though although it dont work great some times it always lowers the pain if it does not stop it

Whats scary about verap?  I thought it was fairly safe to use.

I try to go med free (except O2) as much as possible.  However, I use Maxalt MLT (trex injects dont do squat for me, dont know why).  Prednisone has its limited effectiveness.

When my limited meds dont work, I move to my last resort....... Ztprexa.  So far it always works for me.

Hi Brad,

Very good question! I've been on both sides of that question +.

26 yr clusterhead. For the first 2-3 went undiagnosed, no meds, no nothing but terror. Discovered oxygen which saved my sanity and THEN the parade of about 20 meds (though no triptans) for the next 14 yrs. Minimal success except the O2 (60-90% depending on cycle).Name the side effect, I dealt with 'em until I couldn't deal with them anymore (plus the concern over long term effects). One, in fact was verapamil, which sorta worked for a while then stopped.

Made a tough decision and stopped ALL meds except O2 for the next 7 yrs. Absolutely no difference in cycles or kip levels (higher when younger). At the end of 7 I couldn't take it anymore and desperation set in. That's when I went to a neuro for the first time. She put me back on verapamil at a higher level (which she said the other Doc should have tried), plus Topomax (BAD experience) and Zomig NS (which is blessed relief as a last resort). Doing ok now, I guess...

Coincidental or causitive (don't know, tho some think the later)with the triptan use, I am now chronic. BUT, don't have the guts anymore to go med free, tho have and continue to strongly consider kudzu and clusterbusters. BTW, the same neuro is strongly against taurine as contained in energy drinks. It is her opinion that it is a causitive factor in prolonging or increasing CH. Have had too much success (as have others) to completely buy that yet...but, she is a recognized headache expert and I wonder...

Best wishes that you find the right path,

Jon

I've been med-free since the mid-1970's, by choice.

I should explain, first of all, that I am a clockwork episodic, and have never been chronic. 

There are certainly better choices in medication nowadays, but at the time, the choices consisted of Sansert, Periactin, Caffergot, and various narcotics.  None of them did me any good, and the narcotics seemed to actively make them worse.

So I chose to face them with nothing.

I haven't regretted that choice.  As Brian said, the hits are cleaner, the cycles have not been extended, and the overall number of hits has not increased.  I've cautiously added a few things over the years--things that have not increased the intensity or frequency of the hits--melatonin, which has unquestionably decreased the number of nighttime hits, and magnesium, calcium, and B6 supplements (to unknown effect at this point).  I intend to add oxygen to my arsenal during the next cycle as an abortive.

See--as time goes on, my cycles have been getting farther and farther apart.  I've gone from twice-yearly cycles to one cycle every three years.  I'm unwilling to mess with whatever natural process seems to be in play that is reducing their overall effect on my life. 

So...for me, the decision to go med-free was a good one, as far as I'm concerned.  I don't necessarily recommend it to others.  It can be a rough road, and it depends so heavily on what we can individually endure, and what we are individually faced with, that I don't see how there can be any one answer.  If my CH had been more frequent, or if I had been chronic, I may very well have done something entirely different.

Best wishes,

George

I think med-free is not necessarily a viable choice, but everyone should aspire to be med-free or take as few meds as possible.

I have read so many reports about rebound cluster attacks, rebound migraines and rebound headaches caused by the overuse of meds. Triptans are definitely on the high list with rebound attacks. There was a post somewhere in the clusterheadaches forums about a person taking triptans every day and having more CHs on consecutive days.

Personally for me, taking daily triptans or NSAIDs seems to cause more intense hits / shadows on consecutive days. I would advise everyone to be careful about overusing the meds...but I can understand how the individual situation in life might demand it - e.g. work, taking care of children, so on. Still, it can be possible. I don't use any abortives with my CH attacks, and I'm a probable chronic with daily hits, with my CH going on now since the last September.

My best regards and PFDAN to everyone,
Rosa

Ungweliante wrote on Aug 27^th, 2008 at 8:31am:



Facing a hit with no abortive terrifies the heck out of me.   I used to be able to do it but I guess I've become weak in my old age.  I just can' t do it anymore.

Jeannie

I don't use meds myself.  Last cycle was Kudzu and O2.  Next cycle will be Kudzu, Taurine and O2.  I only went 1 cycle in the past with meds (Trex & Depakote).  Never again.

I want to reiterate.  As long as I'm sane and conscious, never again will I take meds for my cycles.

If I didn't have to work, I'd go med free (excluding melatonin, oxygen and magnesium).

Good post brad, you will probly see many of us took on the beast at some point without meds, you will all so see many of us could not go on forever. For me i never have been on any meds while not in cycle and it will mostly take me about a month or so to get back to the doctor. Thats because the beast is just running rampant with me then and to stay sane the meds were needed. I dont know why all of us seem to go thourgh that suffering 1st before we go back on meds? I think it may be just a lowly holdout thought that just maybe this time i can beat the demon myself, I think it's just the battle warrior in all of us clusterheads. Thanks Coach Bill